As AI-led media investment gains buzz, the real test is whether tools like Meta’s Advantage+ and Google’s PMAX can truly handle the complex business of advertising.

UK adspend rose 8% to £10.6bn in Q1, beating forecasts, driven mainly by a 12.3% year-on-year surge in search and retail media, the top ad investment category

Your competitor just closed a big deal — no clicks, no site visits, just reputation. Welcome to the zero-click world, where buying decisions happen without ever landing on your website.

The search landscape is evolving beyond traditional search engines to social and video platforms, and is outpacing AI search. According to WARC Media, search advertising now accounts for nearly a quarter (22%) of all media budgets, and forecasts global search advertising spend to reach $248.6bn this year, rising to $265.5bn in 2026.

Businesses are turning to commerce media to generate new revenue streams, enhance customer experience, and ensure privacy-compliant advertising. They are leveraging websites, stores, and first-party data. Many are launching commerce media networks (CMNs) to diversify strategies.

A full-funnel digital approach has become essential for brands aiming for both reach and measurable results.

This week in social media updates we’re seeing more apps push for improved age authenticators as new regulations go into effect along with some features focused on creativity and content engagement. Let’s take a look and see what’s most relevant to your brand – X, Meta, Snap, YouTube, Threads.

Second-quarter ad-supported total day viewing for persons age two and up — on linear and streaming TV platforms — grew 2% (1.2 share points) in the second quarter to 73.6% from the first quarter, according to Nielsen.

A disconnect between leadership and marketing teams means AI investments aren't going to solve critical operational bottlenecks.

Just a week after establishing a beachhead in out-of-home measurement, the IAB is expanding its role yet again - this time to a "unified" media universe.